Technical

Load Testing

The Ladder-Genie has been load tested to 560KG, in which the ladder being used for the test, collapsed, leaving the Ladder-Genie completely intact and without the base of the ladder having moved.

The video of this load test illustrates why this is the best ladder stabilizing device on the market.

The ladder used was certified BS2037 Class 1 and had a load capacity of 175KG

The recommended maximum incline to work off a ladder is 10 degrees.

The Ladder-Genie has just completed successful tests which exceed the 10 degree maximum and once again proved the Ladder-Genie to be the most effective ladder safety device on the market.

Risk Perception Scores

Table 23 gives the range of events and their probability, as well as the magnitude of the steps between those probabilities. As can be seen, ladder accidents were again included, to see how well individuals could judge the true level of risk in comparison to other life threatening conditions. The probability data were all derived from data on the government website http://www.Ukonline.gov.uk.

Table 23 Risk perception rating

Probability Correct scores Event

Probability

Rank

Magnitude

Cancer

360

1

1x

Road Acc

15,700

2

50x

Rock climbing

250,000

3

1000x

Ladder

1,000,000

4

3000x

Canoeing

2,000,000

5

6000x

Aircraft

10,000,000

6

30000x

Lottery

14,000,000

7

40000x

Lightning

15,000,000

8

40000x

Fairground

250,000,000

9

700000x

The correct scores for the participants are given in Table 24, and presented in graphical form in Figure 26

Table 24 Risk perception rating

Probability Correct scores Dying of cancer

1 in 360

18

Dying in a road accident

1 in 15,700

18

Dying in a rock climbing accident

1 in 250,000

5

Dying due to ladder accident

1 in 1,000,000

5

Dying whilst white water canoeing

1 in 2,000,000

14

Dying on a passenger aircraft

1 in 10,000,000

8

Winning the jackpot in the lottery

1 in 14,000,000

8

Dying from a lightening strike

1 in 15,000,000

15

Dying on a fairground round

1 in 250,000,000

3

Results

These photographs illustrate the damage sustaind by the ladder at 560 KG and also the Ladder-Genie completely intact. *Click Images to Enlarge*

Base Slip

This failure mode is the one that is most often imagined as the cause of a ladder system failure. A loss of grip occurs at the base points of the ladder and, because the ladder is at an angle to the vertical surface, the ladder base slides horizontally away from the vertical surface. In this fashion the ladder top slides down the vertical surface in an unrestricted fashion, taking the ladder user with it. This is normally associated with a low grip surface at the ladder base, which offers poor retention.

Ladder Footing Techniques

Manual footing of a ladder has traditionally been the means by which stability is enhanced whilst the ladder is tied off prior to use, or during short duration tasks. However, it is not a productive intervention requiring the dedication of an individual for the duration. It also suffers from the possibility of lack of vigilance, since the footing task may involve long periods of boredom when the temptation must be to occupy the time with a secondary activity. The apocryphal image of the tradesman’s assistant standing at the base of the ladder smoking a cigarette and watching the world go by may not be very far from the truth.